Not everyone wants or needs a giant car to carry the family – these are our favourite ways to carry the kids without taking up most of the road
Compact family cars have one of the toughest briefs in the biz.
Not only do they have to fit into tight parking spaces and offer strong value for money, they also need to fit your brood and all that family kit inside, be affordable to run, comfy to cruise about in, and, ideally, look the part and drive well too.
Impossible? Not if you pick from our compact family best-of list below, which rounds up hatchbacks, estates, crossovers and even pure electric choices into one handy guide. We've listed our picks alphabetically.
1. Audi A3
A VW Golf in a tailored suit, the Audi A3 gives a splash of luxury to family hatch buyers. We love the A3’s interior, which looks like it’s been borrowed from the brand’s flagship cars, and its mix of analogue controls and digital gadgetry. Most adults this side of LeBron James will be able to get comfortable in the A3’s back seats, and the boot holds 380 litres of stuff. A range of well-equipped trim levels and economical engines are on offer, so there’s something for everyone – diesels for motorway regulars, hot hatches for speed freaks and a plug-in hybrid for drivers who want a sprinkling of zero-emission electric driving.
Find a used Audi A3 at Motorpoint
2. Cupra Formentor
Read our Cupra Formentor review
If you’re a hot hatch driver who’s had to get something a bit more practical, the Cupra Formentor is ideal. And, if you just want something sporty and spacious, the Cupra Formentor is also ideal. It looks like a SEAT Leon but a little bit longer and taller, and every Formentor gets a sporty body kit and cool copper detailing. There are a range of increasingly powerful petrol engines, topping out with a 310hp version that cracks 0-62mph in under five seconds, and even a pair of plug-in hybrids. They’re fast and frugal – talk about having your cake and eating it.
Find a used Cupra Formentor at Motorpoint
3. Dacia Duster
Premium posh SUVs might be all the rage these days, but they don’t fare so well when you smear chocolate over the seats or kick your size twos into the seatbacks. This is where the Dacia Duster comes in. Not only is it one of the cheapest SUVs in the UK, but it’s built tough for family life too, with a durable, spacious interior, up to 478 litres of luggage space and 217mm of ground clearance. Choose from front or four-wheel drive, and from petrol, diesel and even bi-fuel petrol/LPG engines – the latter with a toilet-stop busting 767-mile range.
There's a new Duster on the block, with cool adventurous styling and properly rugged cladding that's made from recycled materials. It's also available as a hybrid for the first time, letting you keep your running costs low like your monthly payments.
Find a used Dacia Duster at Motorpoint
4. Ford Puma
Ford’s Puma SUV is based on Fiesta underpinnings, so it’s a blast to drive, but a teenager-style growth spurt makes this junior crossover a much more usable family car. Boot space of 456 litres isn’t just best-in-class, it’s way more than a Focus (though that drops to 401 litres with mild-hybrid engines), plus there’s an 80-litre ‘MegaBox’ hidden under the boot floor. Yes, the name makes a hole under the boot sound fist-pumpingly awesome, but it’s practical too, with a plug in the bottom so you can chuck in muddy active-lifestyle attire, then hose it out later.
Don't forget about the Focus if you want a family-friendly Ford. It has a huge amount of rear-seat space for its size, and there's an estate model if you need more bootspace than the hatchback – or the Puma – offers. Plus, it's good to drive as well, and can be more affordable than a Puma.
Find a used Ford Puma at Motorpoint
5. MG ZS Hybrid+
Slightly bland styling aside, the new MG ZS Hybrid+ seems to tick all the boxes if you're looking for a compact family car. It's one of the cheapest SUVs on sale but is very well equipped with a large touchscreen, reversing camera and a host of driver assistance features. Top-spec Trophy is a worthwhile upgrade for its heated seats, heated steering wheel and birds-eye-view parking camera. Performance is decent and so's fuel economy – expect a real-world 50mpg from the easy-going powertrain, which favours the electric motor and rightly leaves the petrol engine with a backup role. A 443-litre boot is among the best in this class, and rear-seat space is strong too.
Shop used MG ZS cars for sale
6. Peugeot 2008
Sometimes, a carmaker gets it absolutely spot on. That’s the case with the Peugeot 2008, which smashes bold, confident styling with a high-quality interior and family-friendly practicality. There’s more rear-seat space than most other small SUV rivals, and getting kids in and out is easy. Handily, there’s room for the bulkiest child seats too. The boot is deep and wide, making it ideal for pram storage, and the adjustable boot floor removes the load lip, giving you somewhere to stash toddler snacks before promptly forgetting you put them there. Some trims give you three Isofix points, which’ll give you kudos on the school run.
Find a used Peugeot 2008 at Motorpoint
7. Renault Megane E-Tech
Read our Renault Megane E-Tech review
Familiar name, but a very different car to previous Meganes. It’s grown into a slightly crossover-ish body, and now only comes with electric power. And it’s all the better for it – the driving experience is smooth and refined, and the EV-specific platform maximises interior space. The Megane was benchmarked against the Volkswagen ID.3, which ensured Renault could make its effort slightly more practical, slightly nicer inside and slightly more efficient. Renault’s Google-based infotainment system is one of the best touchscreens on the market, too.
Shop used Renault Megane E-Tech cars for sale
8. Skoda Scala
Amidst the smaller Fabia and bigger Octavia, the Skoda Scala gets a bit forgotten. But, remember it exists and you’re in for a treat – the Scala is bigger than a Golf but cheaper. Rear-seat space is excellent and boot space is generous, while front-seat occupants get to enjoy a feature-packed but generally intuitive infotainment system. What’s more, the Scala is good to drive and efficient – so it ticks an awful lot of boxes.
But if even the Scala is a bit big for your parking space, the smaller Fabia should offer enough space for two adults and two kids. Or an adult and three kids, because the Fabia has three Isofix child-seat points. Its 380-litre boot exactly matches the Golf, even though the Fabia takes up less space on the road.
Find a used Skoda Scala at Motorpoint
9. Toyota Yaris Cross
Read our Toyota Yaris Cross review
Toyota's Yaris Cross is a Yaris that'll make you happy, not cross. While the Yaris hatch only has enough rear-seat space for a doll, the Yaris Cross is roomier and more suited to child seats. It has a much bigger boot than the standard Yaris, and the SUV ride height means it's easy to get kids strapped in without your back hurting. But, with Toyota's fiercely impressive 1.5-litre hybrid engine under the bonnet, the Yaris Cross provides a relaxing and economical driving experience – we've seen over 70mpg on nursery runs.
Shop used Toyota Yaris Cross cars for sale
10. Volkswagen Golf
Read our Volkswagen Golf review
If the Golf performed an Olympics gymnastics display, every judge would give it a standing ovation – it’s the metronome of the car industry, with a consistency that helps it rise to the top against rivals that shine brighter in some – but not all – areas. Available as hatch or handier estate, the latest Golf is a typically cautious evolution of its predecessor save for a radical infotainment re-boot, but elsewhere it’s as spacious, comfortable, sure-footed and nicely built as usual. Go for a 2024-on car if you can – the infotainment system is much improved over older versions. Mild-hybrid engines improve efficiency, but the plug-in hybrid goes a giant leap further with up to 88 miles of pure electric range and officially 1,000mpg. Just the ticket to offset those pesky energy bills.
Check out our range of nearly new Volkswagen Golfs for sale
Fantastically family-friendly cars
Browse our favourite family SUVs or our guide to the best cars that fit three child seats. Not sure where to start? Read our handy guide to buying the right family car.
